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In Memory of: |
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Llew Jones.
Peter Duncan advises us that Llew Jones passed away on Sunday the 10th January 2021, suffering from cancer. He was being treated at the John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle and had lived on his property at Buchanan, NW of Newcastle. Lew was a well know Radtech at Williamtown and Butterworth during the late 1960s and early 1970s. His private funeral service was held on the 15th January.
Peter says Llew is remembered as always smiling and was always there to help out when needed. He says he first met Llew in about 1969 when he was at 481 Sqn, although Llew was at 2OCU at the time. Llew then went on to Butterworth in about 1970. After leaving the RAAF, he worked at Sanyo for Reg Owen (also an Ex Mirage WOFF RadtechA from 481Sqn). He was "a great Aussie Rules footballer", before moving to Rugby Union where he also went very well.
Howard Campbell.
Diane Taylor advises the passing of Howard Campbell who served from 1957 to 1977, and a was former member of the Radar Branch of the Air Force Association - NSW. His funeral was held on the 16th January on the Central Coast of NSW.
Sorry, no further details.
Keith Carters.
Josie Carters advises that Keith passed away on the 31st December 2020, suffering from Pulmonary Haemorrhage and other complications. Keith was born in Grandville NSW in 1935. He joined the Air Force at 15 as an apprentice Radtech and finished his training at Ballarat. On graduation, he was posted to Canberra and then to the RAAF’s resort at Brookvale following which he spent time in Malta, at Laverton as an instructor, Amberley then back to Canberra. He discharged from the RAAF in 1976 with the rank of Warrant Officer.
Peter Cross.
John Stewart advises that Peter Cross, for many years a stalwart member of the 3TU Association, passed away on the 10th January. His funeral was held on the 18th January.
Sorry, no further details.
Roger Killeen
Col Ely advises that Roger passed away on the 1st February. His funeral was held in Canberra on the 22nd February. Sorry, no further details.
Hughie Collits
RAAFA (NSW) sadly reports the passing of our good friend and highly respected colleague, Hughie Collits, who passed away on 26 January 2021. His career will be well remembered and his professional association greatly missed.
Hughie Collits was a very talented sportsman. Before he joined the RAAF he played in one of the prominent Rugby League clubs which offered him a very lucrative offer to play in the first grade in Sydney. But he joined the RAAF instead.
Hughie enlisted in the RAAF on 28 Sep 53 and joined No 15 Pilots' Course - No 1 Flying Training School. On 26 Feb 54 continued to No 1 Basic Flying Training School. After four months posting to Central Flying School he graduated as a Sergeant Pilot.
To become a Fighter Pilot, on 23 Nov 54, he was posted to No 2 Operational Training Unit Williamtown for No 20 Vampire OTU and OCU.
Here he met up with new colleagues in the Fighter Pilots' environment. At the time the Sergeants' Mess was a rip-roaring, lively place with a bunch of extremely wild young blokes spending every cent that was handed out on payday on parties, good fun and young ladies. But not Hugh! He had married the love of his life, Norma and lived in the Sergeants' Mess with colleagues as a single man. At this time Hugh and Norma had managed to produce a beautiful little girl Deb. Norma and Deb lived in Sydney and were visited by Hugh every weekend. In this way, and in any other ways, Hugh was different to the other people in the Sergeants' Mess.
Following OTU he had a short posting with No 22 Squadron, then No 75 Squadron for three years during which enabled his conversion to the Sabre. Hugh was Commissioned as Pilot Officer on 01 Nov 56.
During the period Jul 58 to Dec 59, from Central Flying School he became a qualified flying instructor (QFI), and an instructor at No 1 Basic Flying Training School. On 7 Dec 59 he took a post at RAAF College Point Cook . Here he served two years during the College reformation to RAAF Academy.
From May 62 to Nov 71, he had a series of posts including Nos 81 and 78 Wings, Nos 77, 3, 79 (Ubon) and 76 Squadrons. On 29 Aug 66 Hugh joined No 7 Mirage Course at No 2 0CU. He was promoted to Squadron Leader on 1 Jan 68.
The "Deltas" Aerobatic Team was formed in 1970 and flew seven (five main formation and two solo aircraft) Mirage III fighters. They performed at displays around Australia for the RAAF's 50th Anniversary in 1971. The Team Manager and spare pilot, of course, was SqnLdr Hugh Collits.
Following an administrative post at Headquarters Williamtown and a posting to No 25 (City of Perth) Squadron, where he was CO for over 2 years, Hughie Collits finally resigned at Base Squadron Williamtown on 04 Jan 74.
Hughie's funeral was held in Armidale on the 6th February.
Darryl Danaher.
The Djinnang Assoc advises the passing of Darryl Danaher. “Darryl, or Dapper Dan as he was known, was a Teleg at Penrith in the early 70s before going West to become a Sigsop. A very popular member we were saddened when news of his passing reached us. We never knew how, when or why he passed. A friend advises that he became a fitness fanatic who used to run 10 k shirtless in the Perth Sun at lunchtime. He was found deceased in his bedroom after one run. Assumed to be a massive heart attack. A very belated RIP to an old mate.”
Peter Prunster
Brendon Godwin advises the sad passing of Peter Prunster on the 12th February 2021. Peter was a RadTech G (1958-70), ex Ballarat, 1CARU and 114MCRU etc. He was a brilliant tech, an all-round fixer, a gentleman amongst rogues. He was 81 years old.
A mate of his, Peter Edwards, says: “Very occasionally one meets an outstanding individual who is a true inspiration, for me Peter was one such person. Talented, professional, dedicated, generous and caring. I served with Pete and remained friends post service. His consummate skills in a wide variety of fields was breathtaking. He made difficult tasks appear easy. In any gathering he had a positive aura, be it wisdom, sagacity, confidence or calmness. Despite his obvious virtues, he was no saint and we managed to get into a lot of harmless trouble. It was a tragedy that the cruel disease robbed him of his glorious twilight years. He leaves an indelible mark as an achiever, devoted family man and a gentleman always”.
Pete acquired Alzheimer’s around a decade ago and has been in care for the past 10 or so years. He had reached the end stage and his passing was no surprise to the family who were well prepared. Carolyn, his wife, first noticed something was wrong when on an around Australia trip, Pete tried to put diesel into a petrol tank. Then a little later when walking down the footpath in Perth, a bus drove past and he suddenly took off and started running down the street after the bus. He has not spoken for several years and has not been able to recognize any of his family for about that long.
Peter was President of the Karratha Swimming Club, (WA), in the early 1990's, a time where there was limited opportunity for competitive swimming within the Pilbara Region. Peter spearheaded a driving force, facilitating the Inaugural Northwest Open Swimming Championships, an event that still takes place. After a three year stint in Karratha, Peter and the family returned home to Carine, a suburb of Perth.
Shortly after, he became President of the Carine Swimming Club and trained as a Referee. He later became the President of Swimming WA, where he served in this position for seven years. Vowing to be 'a President at the coalface', Peter and his wife Carolyn travelled the length and breadth of the State, with a goal of catering to the needs of its members in remote areas.
Peter and Carolyn attended National Championships in every State of Australia. As a result of their contributions to the sport, both were awarded Life Membership of Swimming WA. In addition to this, Peter also served on the Board of Swimming Australia for one year. The highlight of his term in office was having an all-time record eight WA Swimmers selected for the Australian team to compete at the 2004 Barcelona Olympics.
Former Swimming WA President Jeanette Bailey described Peter's contribution to swimming as significant, devoting his time and imparting his knowledge upon many swimmers, officials and leaders along the journey.
He was a well respected member among the Australian swimming community and our thoughts are with his family during this time.
Brendan Godwin says: “When
the RAAF decided to purchase the TPS-27 radar they sent a team over to the US to
evaluate it
Peter’s funeral was held in Pinnaroo (WA) on Friday 26th February, 2021. You can download the handout given out at the ceremony HERE.
Les Keppie
Jeff Cullinan advises the death of Les Keppie on Wednesday 24th Mar 2021 in Tamworth. Les was a Teleg at 3TU in the early 60s and graduated on Teleg Course No 59 at Ballarat in 1961. He was a regular attender of Djinnang functions some years ago. Private funeral arrangements have been made.
Sorry, no further details.
James Sefton.
Belated note. We’ve been told that James ‘Jim” Sefton, had a stroke and after a period of palliative care sadly passed away on the 1st June 2019. Sorry, no further details.
Philip O’Meara.
Jim Noble advises the passing of Philip O’Meara. Philip died on the 28th February in Canberra where he had been living for some years. He was 82 years old. Philip joined the RAAF in the 1960s, after completing an engineering degree from Qld University. He was commissioned in the EngRad category and after leaving the RAAF he joined the Public Service in Canberra.
His funeral service was held on he 9th March when he was laid to rest at the Woden cemetery.
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and
report. Pete Prunster was on that team along with Noel Bailey. I recall one
story Pete told us all about that trip. Aside from the fact that they
recommended the RAAF purchase the radar that is. They were in a bar drinking
beer when the keg ran out. The head barman who tapped the kegs was absent. They
were told they would have to wait until he came back. Being good Aussies they
offered to tap the keg. The barmaid was surprised. You know how to tap a keg
do you? Well of course Pete replied, we are Australians, everyone
in Australia knows how to tap a keg. The barmaid showed them below to where
the kegs were stored and they proceeded to tap a new keg. When they were done
they came back to the bar and told the barmaid they needed to test the beer
because the first few beers are all froth and they need to test to make sure the
keg has settled and the froth is right. They had about 4 schooners each before
the barmaid woke up to their trick and sent them back to the other side of the
bar”.